By Joshua Browne
Tottenham fans are torn between clinging to hopes of Champions League qualification and entertaining the audacious notion of strategically losing to Manchester City on Tuesday night to thwart Arsenal's Premier League title aspirations.
Spurs have been a thorn in Man City's side in recent years and Pep Guardiola only secured his first win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this season in the FA Cup.
The home side's chances of a top-four finish were severely dented by four losses on the trot, leaving Ange Postecoglou's side trailing Aston Villa during a limp end to the campaign.
Here's how Spurs could line up on Tuesday night.
Tottenham predicted lineup vs Man City (4-2-3-1)
GK: Guglielmo Vicario - Produced a few vital saves against Burnley, one deserving of replaying repeatedly. Has firmly established himself as Spurs' number one goalkeeper this season.
RB: Pedro Porro - The Spaniard's no-nonsense defending and physicality will pose a challenge for City's most skilled and technical players. Will have plenty of confidence going into the clash after his rasping strike against the Clarets.
CB: Cristian Romero - Supporters have praised the Argentine for his composure this season. He'll certainly need to keep a cool and clear head against City, especially when confronted by Erling Haaland.
CB: Micky van de Ven - The Dutchman's speed will be essential to keep up with the likes of Jeremy Doku, Kyle Walker and Phil Foden. Having found the net against Burnley, Van de Ven will be eager to position himself for another scoring opportunity.
LB: Oliver Skipp - Was deployed at left-back at the weekend in the absence of Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies, with Emerson Royal unimpressive when filling in. Played a key role in Porro's strike.
CM: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - With Yves Bissouma sidelined, Postecoglou might opt to throw the Dane into the starting lineup to add some strength and power to midfield. Would certainly cover the back four well and free up James Maddison to make more attacking runs.
CM: Papa Matar Sarr - Should earn his 26th league start of the campaign in what has been a good breakout season for the Senegal international.
RW: Brennan Johnson - Postecoglou will be urging Johnson to make better use of his pace, especially after appearing somewhat lax against Burnley. The 22-year-old should start the clash against City but may not play the full duration.
AM: James Maddison - The Englishman has enjoyed a fine first season with Spurs and registered another assist at the weekend. Likely to put in an immense effort against City as he aims to catch Gareth Southgate's attention to secure a spot at Euro 2024.
LW: Dejan Kulusevski - Similarly to Johnson, Kulusevski's performance against the Clarets suggests he may not last the full 90 minutes against City. He'll need to make a strong impression from the outset.
ST: Son Heung-Min - Though he's widely regarded as more effective on the wing, Son will spearhead Spurs' frontline in light of Richarlison's injury. The South Korean has scored 17 goals in the Premier League this season.
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This article was originally published on 90min.com as Tottenham predicted lineup vs Man City - Premier League.
